Method and apparatus for processing hides

ABSTRACT

A beef carcass suspended at the hind legs from a moving conveyor, is prepared for hide removal by means of a deep rumping operation performed by hand which frees the tail and provides at each side of the carcass a hide flap. The underside of the hide is slitted down to the forequarters and head, and a pocket is formed at the top of the loin to free the tail and prevent the fat in this region from being pulled off as the hide is stripped from the pack, sides, forelegs, and head in one continuous rapid operation, the head remaining on the carcass. The stripping involves initially feeding the tail of an animal between two closely moving surfaces which grip progressively the tail, the hind leg flaps, the shoulder portions of the hide, and finally the foreleg and head portions, the stripping continuing uninterruptedly until the head remaining on the carcass is finally bared of hide.

United i Davis [451 June 12, 1973 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSINGHlDES [76] Inventor: Albert D. Davis, 1 17 E. 21st Street,

Spencer, Iowa 51301 [22] Filed: Jan. .25, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 109,339

52 U.S Cl. ..17/21,17/50 51 int. Cl A22b 5/16 [58] Field of Search17/21, 50

[56]. References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,770,006 11/1956 Wilkens17/21 3,483,590 12/1969 Balasch et al. 17/21 3,588,947 6/1971 Devlin etal. 17(21 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,352,552 l/1964 France 17/21Primary Examiner-Lucie H. Laudenslager Att0rney.l. Warren Kinney, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A. beef carcass suspended at the hind legsfrom a mov ingconveyor, is prepared for hide removal by means of a deep rumpingoperation performed by hand which frees the tail and provides at eachside of the carcass a hide flap.' The underside of the hide is slitteddown to the forequarters and head, and a pocket is formed at the top ofthe loin to free the tail and prevent the fat in this region from beingpulled off as the hide is stripped from the pack, sides, forelegs, andhead in one continuous rapid operation, the head remaining on thecarcass.

The stripping involves initially feeding the tail of an animal betweentwo closely moving surfaces which grip progressively the tail, the hindleg flaps, the shoulder portions of the hide, and finally the forelegand head portions, the stripping continuing uninterruptedly until theheadremaining on the carcass is finally bared of hide.

23 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUNI 21915 a. 737, 949

SHEET 1 OF 4 INVENTOR ALBERT D. DAVIS WWZA INVENTOI? ALBERT D. DAVISPATENTEB 21975 3. 737. 949

SHEET 3 BF 4 INVENTOR I20 ALBERT D. DAVIS PATENIE JUN] 2 ms SHEET U [1F4 INVENTOR ALBERT D. DAVIS 1 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING HIDESBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION To a limited extent, proposals have beenadvanced heretofore to automate the removal of hides from beef and otheranimals, in the hope of minimizing expensive hand labor, and overcominginterruptions in the continuous line production of meat. The efforts ofthe past haveproven only partly successful, however, due in largemeasure to the failure of prior machines to consistently maintain acoordinated working arrangement with other timed components of thecomplete system of operations. The prior machines were slow and usuallydid not deep pace with the carcass conveyor through sustainedperiods oftime.

The hide pullers of the past were not designed to remove witheffectiveness the hide of the animal head. The prior devicesobjectionably stretched the entire hide in pulling it from the carcass,this resulting in the production of many thin hides and wasteful tearingthereof. Moreover, the common use of hide grippers in the hide pullingoperation objectionably marked, punctured, or tore the hides unless theoperation was accompanied by considerable manual assistance, whichinvolved added expense.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the pr-sent invention, thereis provided a carriage which may be caused to advance a limited distancewith the constantly moving carcass conveyor, this advancement beingunder the control of an operator or attendant who rides upon thecarriage. The carriage while advancing may also be lowered vertically bythe operator, relative to a carcass suspended by its hind legs from theconveyor.

The carriage supports a frame which includes a pair of wringer elementsrotating in opposite directions, and between which the operatorinitially inserts the tail of the animal. Beginning with the tail, thehide progressively enters the wringer and is stripped from the carcassuntil finally the head, which remains on the carcass, is neatly andcompletely stripped of hide without manual aid. The entire strippingoperation is performed while the carriage and the carcass advancecontinuously a distance of about six feet in the direction of carcassadvancement, while at the same time the wringer elements are loweredprogressively to a location beyond the head of the suspended animal. Acomplete cycle of operation of the apparatus may require about secondsduring which time the actual stripping of hide from the carcass may beperformed in about 5 seconds, under normal operating conditions.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatuscapable of removing with timed precision, the hides of meat animalswhich are suspended by the hind legs from a continuously advancingconveyor of a meat processing plant operating on a continuoushigh-production basis, with a minimum of manual labor involved in theprocess.

Another object of the invention is to provide in apparatus of thecharacter mentioned, simple, reliable, and effective means for rapidlystripping the hides from car- .casses, including the hide from the headsof the animals, without objectionably stretching, marking, or

puncturing the hides to impair their value.

ous processing of meat in large packing plants.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means describedherein and illustrated in the accompa nying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus of the present invention,shown with its carriage in a full-line lowered position at which a hideis stripped from a carcass, and in a broken line elevated position atwhich the hide stripping is initiated.

FIG. 2 is an end view taken on line 22 of FIG. I, and to which has beenadded a carcass conveyor shown in operative relationship to thestripping apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing a final phase of the hidestripping operation begun in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1, anddetailing a carriage suspension means shown immediately above thecarriage in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the FIG. 3 carriage, showing wringer meansthereof in a separated inopera tive position.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, showing the wringer means in closedoperative position.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are views showing in full lines the drive trains of FIGS.5 and 6, respectively, these views being taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 1. 7

FIG. 9 is a detail perspective view of a modification.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional endless conveyor 12 includesthe usual succession of wheeled trolleys 14 each carrying a pair ofpointed hooks 16 spaced from one another and adapted to suspend acarcass C by its hind legs 18. The trolleys of conveyor 12 normallyadvance carcasses continuously past a succession of stations at whichvarious operations are performed in dressing the carcasses. One of suchstations is the hide removing or hide pulling station, with which thepresent invention is concerned.

The conveyor and its trolleys may be suspended from a suitablesuperstructure which includes I-beams such as 20 and 22, in accordancewith common practice.

Arranged in spaced parallelism with the I-beam or conveyor support 20,is a pair of stationary I-beams or track sections 24, 24, the lowerflanges of which support the rollers 26 of a carriage 28 which ismovable lengthwise along the track sections. Such movement of thecarriage is limited, and in most cases may approximate five feet. Apneumatic cylinder motor 30 may be employed to move the carriage in amanner to be explained later, said cylinder having a base 32 fixed to abeam 24, and a piston 34 having one end fixed to carriage 28 at 36.

Carriage 28 includes a pair of spaced parallel upright track members 38,38 which may be in the form of channel irons rigidly joined together attheir lower ends by a horizontal strut 40. Strut 40 may carry aplurality of rollers or guide elements 44 to embrace a fixed floor rail46, whereby the carriage is maintained in a fixed plane while travelingalong the overhead track mem'j- The head portion of carriage 28 supportsthereon a reversible electric motor 48 having a belt drive 50 to a speedreducer 52, which reducer through shaft 57 drives a pair of pulleys 54,54. Hoisting chains or cables 56, 56 are trained over the pulleys 54,and depend therefrom to suspend a shiftable frame.58 guided verticallyby the channel members 38, 38. Rollers 60 carried by frame 58 serve tosmoothly guide the frame in its movements between elevated and loweredpositions as suggested by broken lines and full lines in FIG. 1. Suchmovements are under the control of the reversible electric motor 52,which in turn may be controlled by means of manual push-button electricswitches carried by a control unit 62 within the reach of an attendantstanding upon one of the platforms 64.

The platforms move substantially with frame 58 to the elevated andlowered positions shown. The attendant will use only one of theplatforms 64, this depending upon whether he is right-handed orleft-handed.

Controls available to the attendant may be installed at either or bothof the platforms, as may be convenient.

The shiftable elevator frame 58, as best illustrated by FIG. 1, may besubstantially rectangular of form. Said frame carries a pair of fixedupright sub-frame members 66 spaced apart (FIG. 1 and connected by arigid substantially horizontal bridge member 68. Each of members 66carries also one of a pair ofjournal blocks 70 to rotatably support theopposite ends of a wheel shaft 72 upon which shaft is fixed a pluralityof roll forming members, such as, by way of example, automobile wheels74 carrying anti-skid deep tread pneumatic rubber tires 76.

In the disclosure of FIG. 1, six wheels and tires as above mentioned areshown by way of example, with the understanding that all of the tiresand their treads may be alike, by preference. The shaft 72 and therubber-tired wheels thereon are adapted for rotation as a unit.

, Upon the stationary bridge member 68 may be mounted an electric motorM driving a speed reducer 78 and a train of gears including a pair ofintermeshed spur gears 80, 82 fixed upon shafts 84, 86. One of saidshafts is driven by speed reducer 78, causing gears 80, 82 to rotatesaid s'hafts in opposite directions and at equal speeds.

Shaft 86, through a sprocket 88 and chain 90, (FIG.

7), drives a sprocket 92 affixed to shaft 72 which carries therubber-tired wheels 74. The second shaft 84 carries a sprocket 94driving an endless chain 96, the primary purpose of which is to rotate alower shaft 98 through the agency of a sprocket 100 fixed upon shaft 98.A compensating means to maintain chain 96 in taut condition may beprovided, as exemplified in FIG. 7.

Such means may comprise a shiftable sprocket 102 rotatably mounted uponone arm of a bell crank 104 which is pivoted at 106 for rocking movementagainst the force of a tension spring 108. The spring tends constantlyto draw the chain taut between idler sprockets I10, 110 as will beunderstood.

The shaft 98 driven by chain 96, carries an elongate roller 112 fixedthereon, and trained over said roller 112 and a similar roller 113 is awide endless belt 114. The width of belt 114 approximates the span ofall the tires 76 on shaft 72.

The upper and lower reaches of b-ealt' 1 1-4 overlie; and i underlie aseries of horizontal idler rollers l l.6.dis.posed intermediate therollers 112 and 113. The axes of the several rollers describe an arc-'of a circle, approxi- "i 1 mately, so that the upper reach of belt 114forms sub stantially a concave cradle as shown at l 18, FIG. 5. The belt114 is driven by chain 96 at a surface speed equal to that'of tires 76,the shafts 72 and rotating in opposite directions.

The opposite ends of the several rollers 1 12,, 1 13, and I 116 arejournaled for rotation in bearings carried by a pair of spaced paralleljournal plates 122, 122. Each of said plates plates is slotted as at 124to permit upward and downward shifting of shaft 72 relative thereto.Each plate 122 is fixed, as by means of bolts 128, to a pair ofangularly inclined, spaced parallel lift bars 126, 126, preferably inthe form of angle irons as shown, fixedly secured relative to frame 58,66. At their upper ends, the bars of each pair may be rigidly connectedtogether by a strut having a bracket 132 formed thereon.

At the middle point of each bracket 132, a pivot 134 mounts thereon oneend of a fluid motor or hydraulic cylinder 136 whose piston 138 isconnected at 140 to a journal block 70. Since as before stated, saidjournal blocks 70 are shiftable relative to frame 58 and subframe 66,any outward projection of piston rods 138 against the journal blockswill result in lowering the journal blocks, the shaft 72, and tires 76.The tires when so lowered, will press firmly though resiliently againstthe upper reach of belt 114, as suggested by FIGS. 3 and 6. Conversely,a retractile movement of piston rods' 138 will result in elevating thewheel and tire unit to the position of FIGS. 2 and 5.

The aforesaid actuation of fluid motors or cylinders 136, 136, to lowerthe wheel and tire unit, may be initiated by manually actuating eitherone of two air valves 142 conveniently located on elevator frame 58.Located on the floor of one of the platforms 64 (FIG. 1), so as to befoot operated, is an electric switch 144 to control the motor M. Ahand-operated actuator bar 143 rockably mounted on frame member 68, mayactuate suitable means (not shown) to initiate retraction of the pistonrods to elevate the wheel and tire unit from contact with the belt 114.The nature and arrangement of switches and fluid control valves forachieving the aforesaid hydraulic cylinder actuations are well known inthe art, wherefore the present disclosure need not be burdened with adetailed description thereof.

It may here be noted that the chain tensioning means 104, 108 of FIGS. 7and 8, compensate for changes of distance between sprockets 94 and 100resulting from the hydraulic elevating and lowering of the wheel andtire unit. At 146, FIGS. 5 and 6, is indicated a transverse spray pipewhich directs a spray of water continuously, or at intervals if desired,upon the tires 76 to ensure cleanliness of the tires and belt 114, andto prevent hides from adhering thereto during and upon termination ofthe stripping operation of FIG. 3. The hides H removed or strippedfromthe carcasses may be deposited without manual handling upon aconveyor 148 or other receiver of hides, and disposed of in accordancewith usual practice.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, the reference numerals 150 indicate spacer bars formaintaining the opposing side journal plates 122 of the belt unit inspaced parallelism with one another. The spacer bars at the upper end ofsaid unit rigidify and space also the pairs of guide bars 126, 126.

Referring nowto FIGS. 1 and 2, there is provided at 152 a reciprocableinterceptor or interlock preferably,

in the form of a sliding pin or rod 152, which may be projectedselectively by an attendant into the path of advancement of 'a trolley14 carrying a carcass C. The interceptor 152 may be slidable in bearingmeans 154 fixed to carriage 28, and may be shifted in any approvedmanner to and from operative and inoperative positions with respect tothe trolleys of conveyor 12. Thus, projection of the interceptor 152into the path of advancement of a trolley 14 will effect interlockingwith the moving trolley to enforce advancement of carriage 28 therewithalong the track sections 24, 24.

The means for shifting the interceptor is herein shown, by way ofexample only, as a double-acting pneumatic cylinder 156 whose piston rod158 is attached to one end of the interceptor. A rigid hanger or supportmeans 160 may be utilized to suspend the interceptor mechanism fromcarriage 28. Advancement and retraction of the pneumatic cylinder pistonrod maybe conveniently performed by means of electric pushbuttons at thecontrol unit 62 (FIG. 1), while the attendant rides upon the adjacentplatform 64. The electrical means and fluid valves necessary for theoperation, are well within the skill and knowledge of persons conversantwith machine controls.

From the foregoing, it should be understood that an attendant ridingupon a platform 64 may conveniently manipulate the controls at unit 62,to connect the carriage 28 with, or disconnect it from, the movingconveyor 12. The carriage therefore may be moved, with conveyor 12, fromthe broken line position of FIG. 1 horizontally to the full lineposition shown, along rails 24 and '46. A limit switch, not shown, maybe provided to automatically initiate retraction of interceptor 152 ifand when carriage 28 reaches the end of rail 24, or some predeterminedlocation thereon.

Carriage 28 may be returned to the initial or starting positionindicated by broken lines on FIG. 1, by the action of pneumaticcarriage-return cylinder 30. Cylinder 30 may be pushbutton controlled bythe attendant at unit 62, for return of the carriage to the startingposition. It is not necessary in most cases, to employ the power ofcylinder 30 for advancing the carriage with conveyor 12, particularly ifthe conveyor is adequately powered for towing the carriage.

The attendant standing on platform 64 has access also to the controldevices 142 and 143, for controlling, raising and lowering of tires 76relative to belt 114. In thenormal operation of the apparatus, the tiresremain in resilient contact with the belt; however, the operator mayquickly disengage these elements one from the other should such actionbecome necessary or desirable. Disengagement may be required in theevent of an emergency, such as for example, entry of some part of theattendant's clothing or possibly entry of the animal's nose between themoving elements. The attendant'also may control the starting andstopping of driving motor M, at control switch 144.

The group of tires 76 may properly be referred to as a rotatablecylindrical member of the apparatus, as distinguished from the reactionmeans comprising the moving belt 114. It may be noted also that thereaction means and its counterpart 76 serve as a wringer to remove waterfrom the hides; and if desired, the apparatus may be used as a wringeralone, when not in use as a stripper.

OPERATION OF THE APPARATUS The carcass suspended from movingconveyortrolley I I 14 requires preliminary preparation in advance of reachingthe hide removal station. That is, the carcass is subjected to a deeprumping operation performed by hand, which involves forming a pocket atthe top of the loin by means of an air knife, to free the tail 164 andprevent the fat in this region from being pulled off as the hide isstripped from the carcass. This hand operation also involves slittingthe underside of the hide lengthwise to the forequarter and head, andproviding flaps of hide 166 at opposite sides of the carcass,substantially in accordance with FIG. 2.

The carcass as above prepared will be carried by trolley to thestripping station, where the apparatus of the present invention willhave its carriage elevated and disposed in the starting positionindicated by broken lines in FIG. 1. An attendant standing on a platform64 will press a pushbutton at 144, to start motor M and thereby activatethe rotatable cylindrical member 76 and reaction means or belt 114.Also, the air control valve 142 will be actuated to ensure contactbetween the elements 76 and 114.

The attendant then grasps the tail 164 and inserts it into the throatbetween the moving elements 76 and 114, about midway between the sideedges of element or belt 114. As the tail enters, it is followed by thehide flaps 166, 166, which lie flatwise upon the belt at opposite sidesof the tail, with the hair side contacting the upper reach of the belt.Cleats or angularly disposed chevron-shaped ribs 168 formed on theworking face of belt 114 serve to guide and spread the flaps over theface of the belt. An auxiliary guide and spreader for the hides may beprovided in accordance with FIG. 9, wherein 170 indicates a transversehorizontal bar disposed forwardly of belt 1 14, said bar carrying asmooth triangular guide plate 172 with an apex 174 thereof directedupwardly midway between the journal plates 122, 122. The sloping edgesat opposite sides of apex 174 serve to spread the hides across the widthof belt 114. Upstanding posts 176, 176 located near the ends of bar 170prevent spreading of hides beyond the side edges of the belt. Bar 170may be adjusted rotationally at screw 178, and the elevation thereof maybe adjusted at the arm-securing screw 180.

As the tail and flaps 166 rapidly enter the constricted throat, the hideis pulled from the hindquarter area and the attendant then presses theproper pushbutton at control unit 62, to initiate lowering of frame 58by means of motor 48. The stripping frame finally will reach a loweredposition, such as at FIG. 3, where the hide is about to be stripped fromthe head of the carcass. Here the throat between the presser elements 76and 114 is disposed at a lower elevation than the head 168, andcontinued pulling readily strips the hide therefrom, leaving the headotherwise intact.

As the hide leaves the carcass head, it passes on to receiver 148automatically without manual handling.

Thereupon, the attendant may press the proper pushbuttons at controlunit 62, to retract interlock 152 and return the carriage 28 to theinitial starting position illustrated by broken lines in FIG. 1, withframe 58 elevated in readiness for a subsequent hide-strippingoperation.

It is important to note that pulling of the hide is per formed at alocation always quite close to the carcass, thereby to minimizelengthwise stretching of the hide.

By this procedure the quality and thickness of the hide is preserved,and the likelihood of thinning or tearing is effectively prevented. Thequality, appearance, and usefulness of the hides are enhanced also byreasonjof the fact that no grippers are employed capable of puncturingor marking the hides.

The present apparatus constitutes the cleanest most sanitary hideremoval system known to the industry. It is also the fastest, and mostefficient, with a rate of several hundred beef per hour, and requiringthe services of but one attendant. The removal of heads after hideremoval is very advantageous, in that it saves time and labor, andenables the meat-cutter to leave a maximum amount of flesh on thecarcass incident to head removal.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for removing the hide from a carcass suspended by its hindlegs from the moving trolley of a packing house conveyor rail, thecarcass being prepared in advance by slitting the underside of the hidelengthwise from the tail to the lower jaw approximately, providing rumpflaps, and freeing the tail hide from the tail flesh, said apparatuscomprising in combination: an elevator frame carrying a rotatable meansand a reaction means including press surfaces traveling at substantiallyequal speeds in a direction laterally away from the backbone of thesuspended carcass; spreader means on one of the rotatable means andreaction means for spreading the hide laterally outwardly for flatwiseentry between the. press surfaces; an entry throat between said presssurfaces adapted to grasp and draw between said surfaces the insertedtail of a suspended carcass, followed by peeling off the rump flaps, theback portion, the shoulder portion, the neck portion, and the head andface portions of the hide off the suspended carcass, with transfer ofthe removed hide to a location remote from the carcass; and meansoperative during the hide removal operation, for advancing the frame atthe approximate speed of the trolley advancement, and lowering saidframe progressively as the hide peels from the carcass.

2. Apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein is included means fortemporarily interlocking the frame with a trolley, to advance the framewhile the hide is peeled from the carcass.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the reaction means includessaid spreaders means for minimizing folds in the hides while passingbetween the press surfaces of the rotatable means and the reactionmeans.

4. Apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein the rotatable meanscomprises a series of wheels fixed side by side upon a supporting shaft;and'an automotive pneumatic tire on each wheel for resiliently engagingthe press surface of the reaction means.

5. Apparatus as defined by claim 4, wherein said tires carry treadsembossed to enhance the gripping function thereof upon the hides.

6. Apparatus as defined by claim 5, wherein hides are fed to theperipheral portions of said tires with the flesh sides of the hidescontacting said treads.

7. Apparatus as defined by claim- 6, :wherein is included means forspraying a liquid upon the treads.

8. Apparatus as defined by claim 7, wherein the liquid of the spray ispredominately water.

9. Apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein the reaction means comprisesan endless belt trained about a pair of support rollers, one reach ofsaid belt constituting one of the press surfaces aforesaid.

10. Apparatus as defined by claim 9, wherein is included meansintermediate said support rollers, for imparting .to said one reach ofthe belt an arcuate configu ration; and said rotatable means issubstantially cylindrical of form having a periphery with an arcuacyclosely complementary to the arcuate configuration 0 said one beltreach.

11. Apparatus as defined by claim 10, wherein the rotatable meanscomprises a series of wheels arranged side by side upon a supportingshaft; and an automotive pneumatic tire on each wheel for resilientlyengaging said one reach of the belt.

12. Apparatus as defined by claim 11, wherein is included means placingunder the control of an attendant the speed of lowering of said frame.

13. Apparatus as defined by claim 12, wherein is included means underthe control of an attendant for temporarily interlocking the frame witha trolley, to ensure advancement of the frame with the trolley while thehide is peeled from the carcass.

14. Apparatus as defined by claim 13, wherein the rotatable meanscomprises a series of wheels arranged side by side upon a supportingshaft; and an automotive pneumatic tire on each wheel for resilientlyengaging the press surface of said reaction means.

15. Apparatus as defined by claim 14, wherein the reaction meanscomprises an endless belt trained about i a pair of support rollers, onereach of said belt constituting one of the press surfaces aforesaid.

16. Apparatus as defined by claim 15, wherein is included meansintermediate said support rollers, for imparting to said one reach ofthe belt an arcuate cradle configuration; and said rotatable means issubstantially cylindrical of form having a periphery with an arcuacyclosely complementary to the arcuate configuration of said one beltreach.

17. Apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein is included means under thecontrol of an operator for selectively interlocking the frame with atrolley, to ensure advancement of the frame with trolley while the hideis peeled from the carcass.

18. Apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein is included a shiftablecarriage supporting said frame; an overhead track means of limitedlength disposed in spaced substantial parallelism with said conveyorrail; means for guiding the carriage along said track means between astarting position and a finish position; and upright track meansattached to and movable with said carriage, for guiding the elevatorframe to and from the lowered position aforesaid.

19. Apparatus as defined by claim 18, wherein is included means fortemporarily interlocking the carriage with a moving trolley, to advancethe carriage and frame with the trolley while the hide is peeled fromthe carcass.

20. Apparatus as defined by claim 18, wherein is included means forspraying a rinsing liquid onto the press surface of the rotatable means.

21. Apparatus as defined by claim 18, wherein said means operative tolower said frame is under the control of an attendant.

22. Apparatus as defined by claim 18, wherein the rotatable meanscomprises a series of wheels arranged 23. Apparatus as defined by claim18, wherein the reaction means comprises an endless belt trained about apair of support rollers, one reach of said belt constituting the presssurface of said reaction means.

1. Apparatus for removing the hide from a carcass suspended by its hindlegs from the moving trolley of a packing house conveyor rail, thecarcass being prepared in advance by slitting the underside of the hidelengthwise from the tail to the lower jaw approximately, providing rumpflaps, and freeing the tail hide from the tail flesh, said apparatuscomprising in combination: an elevator frame carrying a rotatable meansand a reaction means including press surfaces traveling at substantiallyequal speeds in a direction laterally away from the backbone of thesuspended carcass; spreader means on one of the rotatable means andreaction means for spreading the hide laterally outwardly for flatwiseentry between the press surfaces; an entry throat between said presssurfaces adapted to grasp and draw between said surfaces the insertedtail of a suspended carcass, followed by peeling off the rump flaps, theback portion, the shoulder portion, the neck portion, and the head andface portions of the hide off the suspended carcass, with transfer ofthe removed hide to a location remote from the carcass; and meansoperative during the hide removal operation, for advancing the frame atthe approximate speed of the trolley advancement, and lowering saidframe progressively as the hide peels from the carcass.
 2. Apparatus asdefined by claim 1, wherein is included means for temporarilyinterlocking the frame with a trolley, to advance the frame while thehide is peeled from the carcass.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1,wherein the reaction means includes said spreaders means for minimizingfolds in the hides while passing between the press surfaces of therotatable means and the reaction means.
 4. Apparatus as defined by claim1, wherein the rotatable means comprises a series of wheels fixed sideby side upon a supporting shaft; and an automotive pneumatic tire oneach wheel for resiliently engaging the press surface of the reactionmeans.
 5. Apparatus as defined by claim 4, wherein said tires carrytreads embossed to enhance the gripping function thereof upon the hides.6. Apparatus as defined by claim 5, wherein hides are fed to theperipheral portions of said tires with the flesh sides of the hidescontacting said treads.
 7. Apparatus as defined by claim 6, wherein isincluded means for spraying a liquid upon the treads.
 8. Apparatus asdefined by claim 7, wherein the liquid of the spray is predominatelywater.
 9. Apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein the reaction meanscomprises an endless belt trained about a pair of support rollers, onereach of said belt constituting one of the press surfaces aforesaid. 10.Apparatus as defined by claim 9, wherein is included means intermediatesaid support rollers, for imparting to said one reach of the belt anarcuate configuration; and said rotatable means is substantiallycylindrical of form having a periphery with an arcuacy closelycomplementary to the arcuate configuration of said one belt reach. 11.Apparatus as defined by claim 10, wherein the rotatable means comprisesa series of wheels arranged side by side upon a supporting shaft; and anautomotive pneumatic tire on each wheel for resiliently engaging saidone reach of the belt.
 12. Apparatus as defined by claim 11, wherein isincluded means placing under the control of an attendant the speed oflowering of said frame.
 13. Apparatus as defined by claim 12, wherein isincluded means under the control of an attendant for temporarilyinterlocking the frame with a trolley, to ensure advancement of theframe with the trolley while the hide is peeled from the carcass. 14.Apparatus as defined by claim 13, wherein the rotatable means comprisesa series of wheels arranged side by side upon a supporting shaft; and anautomotive pneumatic tire on each wheel for resiliently engaging thepress surface of said reaction means.
 15. Apparatus as defined by claim14, wherein the reaction means comprises an endless belt trained about apair of support rollers, one reach of said belt constituting one of thepress surfaces aforesaid.
 16. Apparatus as defined by claim 15, whereinis included means intermediate said support rollers, for imparting tosaid one reach of the belt an arcuate cradle configuration; and saidrotatable means is substantially cylindrical of form having a peripherywith an arcuacy closely complementary to the arcuate configuration ofsaid one belt reach.
 17. Apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein isincluded means under the control of an operator for selectivelyinterlocking the frame with a trolley, to ensure advancement of theframe with trolley while the hide is peeled from the carcass. 18.Apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein is included a shiftablecarriage supporting said frame; an overhead track means of limitedlength disposed in spaced substantial parallelism with said conveyorrail; means for guiding the carriage along said track means between astarting position and a finish position; and upright track meansattached to and movable with said carriage, for guiding the elevatorframe to and from the lowered position aforesaid.
 19. Apparatus asdefined by claim 18, wherein is included means for temporarilyinterlocking the carriage with a moving trolley, to advance the carriageanD frame with the trolley while the hide is peeled from the carcass.20. Apparatus as defined by claim 18, wherein is included means forspraying a rinsing liquid onto the press surface of the rotatable means.21. Apparatus as defined by claim 18, wherein said means operative tolower said frame is under the control of an attendant.
 22. Apparatus asdefined by claim 18, wherein the rotatable means comprises a series ofwheels arranged side by side upon a supporting shaft; and an automotivepneumatic tire on each wheel for resiliently engaging the press surfaceof said reaction means.
 23. Apparatus as defined by claim 18, whereinthe reaction means comprises an endless belt trained about a pair ofsupport rollers, one reach of said belt constituting the press surfaceof said reaction means.